High Quality Child Care??

[daycarediva]

If I recall correctly the benefits of an academic based early childhood 'education' are only apparent in children at/below poverty level. Those studies have also said that the benefits are lost by early elementary school. I have also read that ALL children, regardless of socioeconomic status, in an academic push preschool do poorer later on in their early academic careers.

On the flip side- I have also read studies where children from a play-only early childhood experience not only caught up, they surpassed peers in grade school.

Maybe it's because of the socio-emotional development that was allowed to occur? Maybe it's because they aren't entirely sick of drill and kill academics yet?

Head start failed low income children. Why are we supposed to trust the government with ALL children?

[Blackcat31]

Head start failed low income children. Why are we supposed to trust the government with ALL children?

Because the government still refuses to acknowledge they failed.

Nevermind that it was THEIR own test.

[Controlled Chaos]

"Quality" is a buzz word.

Like "transparent", "hope", "equality" and "change". They do not translate literally.

The goal is universal public school, birth to college graduation. With one curriculum, standardized tests and systematic record keeping.

Like Frost said : "how thoroughly departmental".

Buzzwords eat at my soul.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

Yep! Preach sister! Me too! I've been doing this for 12 years and I'm ready to run for the exit too. I've been to the workshops and even participated in some of the program initiatives, but most of it is crazy! I just can't see providers doing all of the stuff they require on a daily basis. It's just too much, especially if its a one person operation. No way!

[My3cents]

need a like button for the first three post I read.
happyface
:hug:
Crazy!
My home business should remain mine! Parents need to be taught common sense on where they want to place their children. They can look for a good daycare or they pick to send their kids to where they want and can afford. Government should have there hand in only daycares that receive assistance. Regulate those. Private daycares should be allowed to run as they want because the parents pick them! Government is driving daycares right out!
3cents~
12 steps to wash hands.....lets get real.

[Unregistered]

And Hillary is preaching on paid family leave.

So, UPK on the older side, and PFL on the younger side.

Who is left for us to care for? 1-2 year olds? (And I've always thought of toddler-only rooms as a special form of h3!!)

[Blackcat31]

need a like button for the first three post I read.
happyface
:hug:
Crazy!
My home business should remain mine! Parents need to be taught common sense on where they want to place their children. They can look for a good daycare or they pick to send their kids to where they want and can afford. Government should have there hand in only daycares that receive assistance. Regulate those. Private daycares should be allowed to run as they want because the parents pick them! Government is driving daycares right out!
3cents~
12 steps to wash hands.....lets get real.

That is what is happening here in my state.

In order to participate with the star rating program you HAVE to accept state assistance.

If you choose not to accept state assistance or not participate with the star rating program then guess who's name, contact info etc are not listed near the top of the referral lists?

Guess which programs do not qualify for grants, special or free trainings etc?

So basically you CAN choose to operate on your own without the mighty government hand reaching in and regulating you.....but you are, in an essence "blackballed" and no longer viewed as a "sought-after" program and we all know how parents are when it comes to keeping up with the Jones's and wanting to get into the "best" program in town.

[Cat Herder]

Hand washing procedures are exhausting. Probably impossible. I would love to see one of the trainers do this with a mixed age group in their home. Just once. While meeting the curriculum goals we are supposed to.

"Providers should wash before: Upon arrival for the day, when moving from one child care group to another. When hands are visibly dirty. Before going home.

Providers should wash before and after: Food/beverage preparation, handling food. Serving food. Bottle feeding, feeding a child. Giving medications. Playing in water used by more than one person. Eating food.

Providers should was after: Using the toilet, diapering and
toileting. Handling body fluids:• nasal mucus• blood• saliva
• vomit. Handling animals or animal waste. Playing in
sandboxes. Being outdoors. Removing disposable gloves. Handling garbage. Cleaning.

Wash children's hands: Immediately upon arrival for care. When moving from one child care group to another. Upon re-entering the child care area after outside play. Before and after: eating meals and snacks. handling or touching food. playing in water. After: toileting and diapering. playing in sand. touching animals or pets. contact with bodily fluids such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood. contamination by any other means.

How to wash hands: Get paper towel ready for drying. Wet hands with clear, warm water. Apply soap. Wash palm to palm. Back of hands. Ring. Back of fingers. Thumbs, Fingertips.Wash hands including wrists following steps below. Wash for 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday TWICE). Rinse with clear, running water. Dry thoroughly with clean
paper towel. Turn off water with paper towel. Open rest room door with paper towel. Dispose of paper towel in a
hands-free trash can.

Infants: Prepare for Diapering Before Bringing Child to the Table Change the table paper (if used) to cover the table from the child's shoulders to feet (in case it becomes soiled and must be folded over to create a clean surface during the change).

Obtain enough wipes for the diaper change (including cleaning the child's bottom and the child's and teacher's hands after taking the soiled diaper away from the child's skin). Get a clean diaper, plastic bag for soiled clothes and clean clothes (if soiled clothing is anticipated).

Gather your non-porous gloves (if they will be used), and a dab of diaper cream on a disposable paper towel, if cream is being used. Supplies should be removed from their containers and placed near, but not directly on, the diapering surface before starting the diaper change.

Avoid Contact with Soiled Items and Always Keep a Hand on the Child Wash your hands with liquid soap and warm running water. Place the child on diapering table. Remove clothing to access diaper. If soiled, place clothes into a plastic bag. Remove soiled diaper and place into a lined, hands-free trash container. (To limit odor, seal in a plastic bag before placing into trash container.)

Clean the Child’s Diaper Area Use wipes to clean child's bottom from front to back. Use a wipe to remove soil from adult's hands. Use another wipe to remove soil from child's hands. Throw soiled wipes into lined, hands-free trash container.

Put on a clean diaper and redress child.

Clean and Disinfect the Diapering Area. Clean any visible soil from the diapering table. Spray the diapering surface with bleach-water solution and wait more than 10 seconds before wiping with a disposable towel or allow to air dry.
The recommended practice is to wait for 2 minutes to allow the solution to kill germs. However, if there is a delay of more than 10 seconds before the solution is wiped from the surface, this is considered adequate. The surface cannot be sprayed and immediately wiped.

The diapering surface must be sanitized after each diaper change with a bleach-water or other approved sanitizing solution.

Wash Your Hands and Record in the Child’s Daily Log.

Adult washes hands using the proper hand washing procedure without contaminating any other surfaces.

Additional precautions
All surfaces must be able to be sanitized- e.g., no quilted pads or safety straps, no containers that are stored on the diapering surface.

Toys that are played with or objects that are touched while children's diapers are changed must be put aside to be sanitized."

[Josiegirl]

Add to that whole diapering procedure that you get one swipe down per wipe. I'm always folding mine to take another swipe. We go through enough of those things daily as it is.

I'm really glad I only have a few years left before retirement.

[daycarediva]

Because the government still refuses to acknowledge they failed.

Nevermind that it was THEIR own test.

[My3cents]

That is what is happening here in my state.

In order to participate with the star rating program you HAVE to accept state assistance.

If you choose not to accept state assistance or not participate with the star rating program then guess who's name, contact info etc are not listed near the top of the referral lists?

Guess which programs do not qualify for grants, special or free trainings etc?

So basically you CAN choose to operate on your own without the mighty government hand reaching in and regulating you.....but you are, in an essence "blackballed" and no longer viewed as a "sought-after" program and we all know how parents are when it comes to keeping up with the Jones's and wanting to get into the "best" program in town.

oh I know......it is crazy!!!

I still think that in order to be a licensor that you have to have requirements and the front and center one should be that you have had to have owned your own home daycare for five years..... and the same for anyone above that!

The hand washing requirement is nuts. Schools don't do that! You want me to teach them to sing Happy Birthday while they wash their hands- talk about sending the wrong message!

I am a home daycare. I do things the way you would if you were at home. You can't control peoples living situations. You can recommend and give advice. The parents that are sending these kids to daycare need to decide if it is the quality that they want for their children. I opened my own business because I didn't want to be cookie cutter. I didn't like the cookie cutter daycares I had experiences with. Rules sound great when you are sitting in a meeting and creating them. Applying them realistically is another story.

Good thread, thanks for sharing everyone~
3cents

[Annalee]

I have many thoughts/opinions dealing with this thread but after fighting the government locally, state-wide and nationally, it exhausts me! I am beginning my 15th year with QRIS and it isn't going away EVER! What is the use in fighting?

[Thriftylady]

That is what is happening here in my state.

In order to participate with the star rating program you HAVE to accept state assistance.

If you choose not to accept state assistance or not participate with the star rating program then guess who's name, contact info etc are not listed near the top of the referral lists?

Guess which programs do not qualify for grants, special or free trainings etc?

So basically you CAN choose to operate on your own without the mighty government hand reaching in and regulating you.....but you are, in an essence "blackballed" and no longer viewed as a "sought-after" program and we all know how parents are when it comes to keeping up with the Jones's and wanting to get into the "best" program in town.

It is basically like that here. I can (and will) remain legally unlicensed. But I am not listed on any registry. I also can't take part in the food program even if I wanted to. I find that wrong. Wrong, because as PP stated parents should have the choice, and having the choice should come with having all the info, such as a full list of providers. Of course some parents may make a bad choice, but I guess that is their right as a parent just as much as it is some people's bad choice to become a parent.

[Annalee]

It is basically like that here. I can (and will) remain legally unlicensed. But I am not listed on any registry. I also can't take part in the food program even if I wanted to. I find that wrong. Wrong, because as PP stated parents should have the choice, and having the choice should come with having all the info, such as a full list of providers. Of course some parents may make a bad choice, but I guess that is their right as a parent just as much as it is some people's bad choice to become a parent.

unlicensed here are allowed to be on the food program.....ironically in 6 counties, my food program lady has 42 unlicensed and 8 licensed...and the majority of the unlicensed are counting children as related when they are not so they are keeping as many children as I do....

BTW: My food sponsor turned these providers in and her bosses told her "they needed the count"....so just like BC has said "IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY"

[Thriftylady]

unlicensed here are allowed to be on the food program.....ironically in 6 counties, my food program lady has 42 unlicensed and 8 licensed...and the majority of the unlicensed are counting children as related when they are not so they are keeping as many children as I do....

BTW: My food sponsor turned these providers in and her bosses told her "they needed the count"....so just like BC has said "IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY"

I do find that wrong. In my county, there were two licensed homes last I knew, because the gal that does it won't license us unless we meet center regs. She flat out told me "I want all daycare homes and centers to operate the same". So we are all unlicensed. But I feel that all unlicensed homes should follow the rules also. I know many unlicensed providers here are over ratio. I try not to worry about it. I mean the parents KNOW that, they would have to when they walk in and see a whole house full of kids. I can't keep a house full and provide quality care, so I don't do that. But in the end the parents have to decide what they want I guess. Sadly in my area usually they choose cheap.